The MDWFP Museum of Natural Science is located in Jackson, Mississippi, tucked within historic LeFleur's Bluff State Park. The museum's vast expanses of glass overlook a 300-acre natural landscape, an open-air amphitheater, and 2.5 miles of nature trails. Inside, meet over 200 living species in our 100,000 gallon aquarium network and explore 73,000 square feet of permanent and temporary exhibits which include deer, waterfowl, fossils, and Mississippi's endangered species.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Displays of Mississippi's diverse habitats including a spectacular exhibit of white-tailed deer and soaring waterfowl
- An entire wall of fossil specimens, Zygorhiza, Mosasaurus, and a giant Sloth
- The Preschool Discovery Room features colorful murals and an iconic, giant treehouse with a slide
- The Dinosaur Trail
- The Dragonfly gift shop
- The LeFleur's Bluff Playground
- Classroom space and the 200-seat Rotwein Theater
- A safe storage environment for the museum's biological archives - a vast collection accessed regularly by scientists around the world!
Each year, more than 100,000 visitors are inspired by the natural world showcased in the Museum's permanent and special exhibits. We encourage you to share your time between the indoor exhibits and the outdoor environment, moving between informative indoor models and their reality in a natural Mississippi setting.
A range of nature trails meander through wooded bluffs, river bottoms, lakes, and scenic swamplands, offering ample and diverse opportunities for nature walks, photography, and the study of living things in their natural landscape.
The museum also hosts numerous award-winning annual events including NatureFEST, Family Fun Science Night, Fossil Road Show, Snake Day, Park After Dark, and more. Click here for the events calendar.
Our education team provides special programs for scouts and teachers and also coordinates the museum's popular summer camps.
Mission Statement
The museum's mission is to promote understanding and appreciation of Mississippi's biological diversity through collections, research, scientific databases, education, and exhibits; and to inspire the people of our state to respect the environment and to preserve natural Mississippi.
History
Established in 1932, the Museum was essentially born out of its founder Fannye Cook's passion for collecting and studying Mississippi's natural world and has continued to grow under the direction of strong leadership through the years. The museum's history has always been inextricably linked to a devotion to studying and preserving the state's natural resources. The efforts of over 80 years of study are assembled in the museum's vast scientific collections, housed in a safe-storage environment in order to better preserve the specimens. Our collections currently consist of more than 1,000,000 specimens, representing the largest single reference for Mississippi vertebrate animals and freshwater mussels in existence!
Accreditation
Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and a member of the Association of Science - Technology Centers, the MDWFP Museum of Natural Science is a credible learning institution and a recognized attraction offering membership benefits.
Awards
Click here to see a list of awards received by the museum in recent years.
Area Attractions ADA/EEOC Policy
Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau
Ridgeland Tourism Commission
Canton Convention & Visitors Bureau
Metro Jackson Attractions Association
Visit Mississippi
ADA/EEOC Policy
The MDWFP Museum of Natural Science is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
